One in a series of programs produced by Clark Coolidge that feature the works of late 20th century poets, sound poets, and authors. In this recording, made at the University of Iowa in Iowa City on May 22, 1969, Ted Berrigan reads a selection of his short poems and contemporary sonnets. Berrigan was part of the second generation of the New York Poetry School, from the 1950s up until his death in 1983. He was friends with Frank O’Hara, Ron Padgett, Dick Gallup, Anne Waldman, Joe Brainard, Anselm Hollo, and Peter Schjeldahl and other young poets of his generation, many of which are mentioned in his poetry or his dedications. His poems range from examinations of simple words like “of” and “that”, to ruminations on sex and drugs. They are filled with references to the myths of the American West, life in New York City, and memories of childhood. One technique he used in his sonnets was to reuse lines and phrases thus creating a sort of personal and evocative vocabulary all his own.

Note: There is some profanity.

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